The Reserves make their long awaited debut at their new 'home' ground Seven Acre & Sidcup FC this Sunday

Lewis Spencer was delighted with the Charlton women’s reserve team’s effort and application during their 6-0 demolition of Portsmouth last weekend.

The Addicks, who are the current FA Women’s Premier Reserve League champions, face Gillingham in the League Cup this Sunday at their new Oxford Road home (KO 2pm) looking to take that momentum into a local derby.

And Spencer, in his first competitive game as reserve team manager, was impressed as his young side romped to victory thanks to goals from Olivia Cole (2), Francesca Tye (2), Louise Duffy and Isabel Hunter.

He said: “To go away from home is always going to be difficult for a young group of players and I’m really delighted with how they applied themselves throughout that 90 minutes.

“The conditions weren’t great to start with and it took us a long time to actually grow into the game but once we did we established our pattern and I was absolutely delighted with how they applied themselves.”

Looking forward to the Gillingham clash, he added: “It’s our first home game, first and foremost.

“It’s a local derby and I’m sure a few of the girls know each other and they’ll be talking but come match day, we’ll be ready.

“We’ll install the same pattern of play and we’ll expect them to play the same way.”

Despite high praise for the whole squad, there were a number of stand-out performers that Spencer picked out, including 17-year-old midfielder Vicky Chincharo on her senior debut.

“I’m going to highlight Clare [Rogers],” he said. “Clare was like a new player and if you look at Vicky Chincharo, when she came on she influenced the game after 60 minutes and she looked like she had played 100 league games.

“That’s not singling anyone out – the whole group were absolutely fantastic on the day.

“Olivia is a box of tricks and the type of player I love to watch. She’s so unpredictable with her football and on Sunday she was unplayable.

“Lou Duffy played in a different position and I was absolutely delighted for her. [She was] really nervy but she didn’t let the occasion get to her and to come away with a goal was the icing on the cake – her performance and her attitude was absolutely spot on.

“Izzy was absolutely brilliant; the timing of her runs on Saturday was absolutely brilliant and she could have had three or four goals.

“Again, that’s down to sheer hard work and Izzy listens to what we instruct her to do on the training ground and put that into practise on a match day.”

With the first team’s sluggish start to the season, there looks to be a chance for the reserves to impress this season. with new signing Ruby Southgate in the squad for the friendly against Barnet on Sunday.

And Spencer believes that there are a number of his side who could follow in their footsteps and make the step up at some point in the season.

Equally, he is keeping an eye on the Charlton Athletic Development team as there are some girls there who are on the verge of being called into the second string this term.

He said: “[Training alongside the first team] gives them a benchmark to aim towards, particularly playing them in an 11 v 11 on a Thursday night, it gives them an aspiration to show them where they’re up to.

“In terms of their potential, they have no reason not to get to that level, if they believe in themselves and listen to us as coaching staff and trust one another.

“There’s potential to move up and down and my message to the players was clear last Thursday: ‘Your objective is to outgrow this squad’.

“There is a conveyor belt within this football club, we can move players forward. We’ve identified the players that are in the development squad that should be in and around the reserve squad come Christmas time.”

Our new home is situated in Oxford Road, Sidcup DA14 6LW

Entry is free and the club house will be open before and after the game for supporters